Typewriter cabinet



Nov. 8, 1932. c, MYERS 1,887,165

TYPEWRITER CABINET Filed May 7 1929 6 Sheets-Sheet l l'mventor,

MM M55 Cttornegs NOV. 8, 1932. c, MYERS 1,887J65 TYPEWRITER CABINET Filed May 7, 1929 6 Sheets-Sheet, 2

INVENTOR ATTORN EYS.

Nov. 8, 1932. L. c. MYERS TYPEWRITER CABINET 6 Sheets- Sheet 5 Filed May .7. 1929 Nov. 8, 1932. L. c. MYERS 1,887,165

TYPEWRITER CABINET Filed May 7, 1929 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR Lewis C-JWyc/o W HAW ATTORNEYS.

Nov. 8, 1932. L. c. MYERS 1,887,165

TYPEWRITER CABINET Filed May 7, 1929 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Bnventor Lewis CY .flfyem',

Gttornegs.

Nov. 8, 1932. c. MYERS TYPEWRITER CABINET Filed May 7, 1929' 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Patented Nov. 8, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT. OFFICE LEWIS C. MYERS, OF FBEEPOBT, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOB TO ROYAL TYPEWRITEB COMPANY, INC, OF NEW YORK, N. Y A CORPORATION NEW YORK TYPEWBITEB CABINET Application filed Kay 7, 1929. Serial No. 381,189.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in typewriter cabinets of the noiseless or silent type.

Among the several objects of the invention are to provide a cabinet having a movable cover, a power operated means for moving the cover to its extreme open and closed posit1ons, and manually operable means for controlling the power-operated means; to provide said cabinet with the power-operated means within the cabinet; to rovide the cabinet with the manually opera 1e control means within the cabinet and to include a control lever which is manually operable from the exterior of the cabinet; to provide control means for automatically stopping the power-operated means when the cover reaches either extreme position of movement; to provide means for preventing injury to the operators hand should said hand he placed on the box when the cover is being moved to closed position; to provide a mounting for both the poweroperating means and the control means which can be readily removed or placed in position as a unit, and to provide a counter-balancing means for the cover whereby the load of the cover and the inertia thereof during the opening movement will be separated from the power-operated means.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a typewriter cabinet showing the application of my invention, the sound deadening casing for the cover operating means being omitted.

Figure 2 is an enlarged top plan view of the power-operated mechanism for raising and lowering the cover and the control means therefor, I

Figure 3 is an enlarged transverse sectional view taken on the line 33 of Figure 2 and showing the power-operated means and the control means therefor, the cover being closed,

Figure 4 is an enlarged transverse sectional view looking in a direction opposite that in which Figure 3 is viewed and showing particularly the power-operated mechanism, the cover being open,

Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 55 of Figure 4,

Figure 6 is a detail elevation of the control lever and associated parts, the view showing the lever in osition immediately prior to the lever being isengaged from the latch mounted on the sub lever,

Figure 7 is a similar view but showing the sub lever in its normal position and disen ga ed from the control lever,

igure 8 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 88 of Figure 4, the driving shaft being omitted,

Fi ure 9 is an elevation of the worm wheel and its bushing,

Figure 10 is an elevation of the crank arm em loyed for moving the cover,

igure 11 is an elevation of the double crank arm employed for automatically stopping the power-operated mechanism,

Figure 12 is an enlarged transverse sectional view taken through the cabinet and showing the means for counter-balancing the cover,

. Figure 13 is a detail view of the spring anchor employed in the cover counter-balancing means, and

Figure 14 is a detail sectional view showing the mounting for the adjustable eccentric thrust bearing for the driving shaft.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, my invention includes a cabinet which embodies a box A and a cover B therefor. The box includes a bottom 5, a front wall 6, a rear wall 7 a right hand end wall 8, and a left hand end wall 9. The bottom 5 is provided centrally with a drop portion '10 for receiving the main frame of a typewriting machine which is indicated as a who e by the reference character 0. This typewritin machine embodies the usual carriage 11 an keyboard 12. The keyboard rojects forwardly of the front wall 6 throng an opening formed therein.

The cover B includes front and rear walls trate the cover B is movably connected to the box A by means of a hinge 20 which is connected to the rear wall 7 of the box and to the rear wall 14 of the cover. In order to render the cabinet as sound proof as possible, I have secured a silencing pad 21 o felt, or

other suitablematerial, round the entire inside and around the edges of the box and cover A and B. By reason of the transparent closure 19, the operator ma readily view the typewriting machine an particularly note when the carriage 11 has reached its extreme limit of letter spacin movement. When it is desirable to move t e cover relative to the box in order to gain access to the machine whereby the operator may insert or adust work sheets, make erasures or adjust t e margin or tabular stops, I have provided a power-operated mechanism for moving the cover from its closed position to its open position or vice versa, and have provided a means which is operable from the exterior of the cabinet for controlling the power operated means.

To this end, I have provided a sheet metal plate 22 for supportingl both the power-operated mechanism and t e control mechanism therefor. This plate is sup orted on the bottom 5 of the'box through t e medium of the silence pad 23, the plate being secured to the bottom 5 by screws 24, 24 and coil springs 25 which are respectively disposed between the heads of the screws and the plate 22 and function to yieldably retain the supporting plate against the silence pad 21.

The power-operated mechanism includes a worm wheel 26 having a bushing 27 which is journaled on a bearing pin 28 clamped to an upstanding bracket 29 struck up from the plate 22 at one end thereof. The bushing 27, at one end thereof, is formed with a peripheral flange 30 and the outer face of this flange is recessed to receive the hub 31 of a double crank arm 32, the arms being respectively indicated by the numerals 33 and 34. The hub 31 is formed with a plurality of concentrically disposed elongated openings 35. A washer 36 is positioned against the outer face of the hub 31 and a plurality of screws 37 extend through openings in the washer and through the openings and into the flange 30 of the bushing 27 By means of the concentric openings 35 the double armed crank 32 is supported by the worm wheel 26 for limited movements relative thereto in the plane of rotation of said wheel. A radiall extending pin 38 is fixed to the bushing 2 and a coil spring 39 has one end connected to the pin 38 and its other end to the crank arm 34 so as to yieldably retain the double armed crank 32 against movement relative to the worm wheel 26. A crank arm 40 is attached to the arm 33 through the medium of a clamping screw 41 and an arcuate slot 42 formed in said crank arm 40. The inner end of the crank arm 40 is curved as at 43 to fit the periphery of the washer 36. Thus b means 0 the screw 41 and slot 42, the cranli arm 40 may be axially adjusted within the limits of the slot 42 relative to the worm wheel 26. A link 44 is pivotally connected at one end as at 45 to the outer end of the crank arm 40. The other end of the link 44 is connected to the end wall 15 of the cover B through the medium of a pin and slot connection. This pin and slot connection includes an elongated slot :46 formed in the outer end of the link and a pin or screw 47 which extends through said slot and into said end wall. A coil s ring 48 has one end connected to the cover B throu .h the medium of the pin 47 and the other en connected to the link 44 as at 49 at a point intermediate the slot 46 and the pivot 45 of said link. The spring 48 functions to yieldably retain the pin 4 against the inner end of the slot 46. The slot 46 and the spring 48 function as a safety device should the operator have her hand positioned on the top of the box when the cover is being closed.

Under these circumstances, the cover will enga e the operators hand but by reason of the shot 46 and sprin 48, the link 44 will be moved downwardly t rough the action of the lclran lk arm 40 without injury to the operators In order to rotate the worm wheel 26, I have provided an electric motor 50 which is mounted on the supporting plate 22 through the medium of an upstanding bracket or ear 51 which is struck from said plate. The motor shaft 53 is operatively connected to a driven shaft 54 through the medium of a yieldable coupling 55 and a gear coupling 56. The driven shaft 54 is journaled at one end in bearings 57, 57 struck from an ear 58 which extends upwardly from the plate 22 on the same side of the plate as the bracket or ear 29. The other end of the driven shaft 54 is journaled in a bearing 59 struck from the bracket or ear 29. A worm 60 is fixed to the driven shaft 54 and meshes with the worm wheel 26. An eccentric 61 forming a thrust bearing for the driven shaft 54, is fixed to a stud 62 which is clamped to the bracket or ear 29 as shown in Figure 14. Associated with the driven shaft 54 and supported by the plate 22 is a brake 63 for reducing the speed of said driven shaft.

From the foregoing, it will be observed that when the motor 50 is in operation the crank arm 40 will be rotated and during each complete rotation of the crank arm, the cover B will be completely opened and completely closed. g

It is desirable to control the power:operated mechanism whereby upon depresslon ot a manually operable lever the motor Will be started and the cover will be moved from one extreme position to the other, and to provide lneans for automatically stopping the motor immediately prior to the cover reaching said other extreme position. Inasmuch as the power-operated mechanism and the control mechanlsm are disposed within the cabinet, I have provided a control lever for starting the motor and have arranged sald control lever so as to be operable from the exterior of the cabinet thereby permitting said control mechanism to be actuated when the cover is either in its closed or open position. 1

To this end, I have connected the motor '50 in an electric circuit which I have indicated generally by the numeral 64 and have provided a switch 65 in said circuit. This switch is of the well known double pull type and includes a chain 66. When the chain 66 is initially pulled against the tension of the spring located in the switch housing 67, and then released, the switch will be closed. Upon a second pull of the chain 66 and a release thereof, the switch will be opened. I have placed the switch 65 within the cabinet and have mounted the same on the supporting plate 22. An ear 68 extends upwardly from the plate 22 and a strap 69 cooperates with said ear and plate 22 to retain the easing against movement. A manually operable control lever 70 for the switch 65 and consequently for the power-operated mechanism, is pivoted as at 71 to an upstanding ear 72 on the supporting plate 22. This control lever 70 includes an arm 73 which is disposed within the cabinet and above the supporting plate 22, a depending arm 74 which projects downwardly from the pivot 71 through an opening 7 5 formed in the bottom 5 of the box A, and an operating arin 76 which extends forwardly from the arm 74 to a point in front of the front wall 6 of the box A and terminates in a finger piece 77. The operating arm 76 is movable vertically within a slotted guide 78 secured to the under face of the bottom 5. Extending upwardly from the plate 22 at a point intermediate the ends of thearm 73 of the control lever 70 is an ear or post 79. A coil spring 80 has one end conwith a laterally extending ear 83 to which one end of the chain 66 is attached. The

chain 66 after it leaves the switch 65 passes around a grooved roller 84 journaled on the plate 22 and thence under a grooved roller 85 which is journaled on an inclined. axis to an ear 86 which extends upwardly from the plate 22, the extreme end of the chain being connected to the ear 83 as previously state A latch 87 is pivoted intermediate itsends as at 88 to the free end of the arm 73 of the control lever 70. This latch 87 includes a throat 89 and a tail 90 which are arranged in right angular relation. The throat 89 is adapted to cooperate with a stop 91 which extends laterally from thesub lever 82 in order to lock the control lever 70 and the sub lever 82 together. A coil spring 92 has one end connected to the latch 87 and the other end connected to an ear 93 formed on the arm 73 of the control lever 70, the spring 92 functioning to yieldably retain the throat 89 in engagement with the stop pin 91. The tail 90 of the latch 87 is adapted to engage a stationary pin 94 which extends laterally from the post 79. This pin extends through a slot 95 formed in said post, the major axis of the slot being disposed in a plane at substantially right angles to the arm 73 when the latter is in its elevated position whereby the pin 94 may be adjusted toward and from the tail 90. When the latch 87 has been released from the stop pin 91, the spring 92 will tend to swing the latch so as to move the tail 90-upwardly. This upward movement of the tail 90 is limited by an ear 96 formed on the free end of the arm 73 of the control lever 70. The latch 87 beyond the throat 89 is provided with a cam nose 97 adapted to engage the stop pin 91, when the control lever is releasedby the operator and returned by the spring 80 to its normal position, and thereby cam the throat 89 into interlocking engagement with the pin 91. The outer end of the sub lever 82 is provided with an upwarding extending guide arm 98 which cooperates with the free end of the arm 73 of the control lever 70 to maintain the sub lever 82 in proper working relation to the main control lever. The tail 90 of the latch 87 is provided with a laterally extending ear 99 which projects over the sub lever 82 for engagement with the arm 73 of the control lever 70.

In the normal position of the parts as shown in Figure 3, the control lever 70 and the sub lever 82 are locked by the latch 87 so as to move in unison upon depression of the control lever by the operator. As the inner end of the control lever is moved upwardly the tail 90 of the latch 87 will contact with the stop pin 94 and thereby cause the latch to be swung against the tension of the spring 92 so as to disconnect the throat 89 from the pin 91, thereby disengaging the control lever from the sub lever. While the wardly, a pull will be exerted on the chain 66 to rotate the switch 65 and immediately upon disengagement of the sub lever 82 from the control lever 70, the spring within the switch will immediately return the sub lever to its initial position regardless of the fact that the control lever is still held in its depressed position with the arm 73 thereof in its upper position. Thus the normally open switch 65 has been closed as a result of the depression of the manually operable control lever 70, and the driven shaft 54 Wlll rotate the worm wheel 26 together with the double armed crank 32 and the crank arm 40. Assuming the cover B to be in its closed position when the control lever is depressed, the crank arm 40 in its movement of approximately 180 will swing the cover B upwardly to its open position.

I have provided motor operated means for automatically opening the switch when the cover approaches either of its extreme positions of movement. To this end, I have pivotally mounted a trip lever 100 on the bracket or ear 29 of the plate 22. The trip lever 100 is in the nature of a bell crank lever and 1ncludes a laterally extending arm 101 and a downwardly extending arm 102, the lever being pivoted to the bracket 29 at its angle as at 103. The lower end of the arm 102 1s provided with a perforated arm 104 to which one endof a link 105 is connected, the other end of said link being connected to the chain 66 through the medium of a coupling 106. Thus when the trip lever 100 is actuated so as to swing the arm 102 in a direction away from the switch 65, the link 105 will pull the chain 66 and thereby 0 en said switch. In order to actuate the trip lever 100, I have provided the arm 101 with a laterally extending ear 107 which is adapted to be alternately engaged by rollers 108 and 109 which are respectively mounted on the arms 33 and 34 of the double armed crank 32. The arms 33 and 34 are respectively provided with concentric slots 110 and 111, the roller 108 being supported for adjustments along the slot 110 and the roller 109 being supported for adjustments along the slot 111. Inasmuch as the rollers 108 and 109 are disposed at substantially diametrically opposite points, it will be apparent that these rollers will alternately actuate the trip lever 100 immediately prior to the cover reaching its extreme limits of movement.

In operation as thus far described, assuming the cover to be in its closed position and it is desired to open said cover, the operator presses on the finger piece 77 of the control lever 70 and thereby swings the arm 73 of the control lever upwardly together with the sub lever 82. As the arm 73 and the sub lever 82 approach their upper position, the latch 87 engages the stop pin 94 and causes the latch to swing about its pivot 88 thereby disconnecting the control lever 7 0 from the sub cover will be swung upwardly to itsextreme .1

open position through the medium of the crank arm 40 and the link 44. Immediately prior to the cover reaching its extreme open position, the roller 109 will engage the ear 107 of the trip lever 100 and thereby swing said trip lever in a direction to exert a pull on the chain 66. As soon as the roller 109 leaves the car 107, the spring within the switch will return the chain 66, the link 105, and the trip lever 100 to their initial positions, and the switch will be opened. The parts are so timed that the momentum of the driving connections between the worm wheel 26 and the motor will permit the worm wheel subsequent to the roller 109 leaving the trip lever 100, to rotate a distance sufficient to move the cover to its extreme open position. When it is desired to close the cover, the operator depresses the control lever 70 and as a result the switch 65 will be closed and the power operated mechanism will be actuated. As the cover ap proaches its closed position, the roller 108 will engage and actuate the trip lever 100 to effect an opening of the switch 65. Should the operator leave her hand on the upper edge of the box A during the closing of the cover, the cover will engage her hand but it will not be injured because of the pin and slot connection 46, 47 between the link 44 and thecover which will permit of the link being moved without exerting a direct pull on the cover. By reason of the openings 35 in the double armed crank 32, and the spring 39, a cushioning effect is created when the rollers 108 and 109 engage the trip lever 100and consequently a sudden or jerking action to the chain 66 is thereby avoided.

It is desired to separate the load of the cover from the power operated mechanism, and particularly to eliminate the inertia of the cover in its opening movement. To this end, I have provided a counter-weighting means for the cover which includes a lever 112 fulcrumed intermediate its ends as at 113 to the end wall 9 of the box. The upper arm 114 of socket 122 for receiving said screw, the socket 122 being .swiveled on a supporting pin 123 mounted in the end wall 9 of the box. When the cover is in its closed position, the spring 119 is under tension and consequently when the power operated mechanismis thrown into operation to swing the cover upwardl the spring 119 will function to overcome t e inertia of the cover, and the parts are so arranged that the oounterweighting mechanism will substantially retain the cover in any position of movement thereby eliminating the load of the cover from the power operated mechanism.

The motor and the cover opening mechanism which is operated by the motor, are enclosed in a sound deadening casing including a sheet metal wall 123a and top 124, which are suitably flanged for atatchment to the box A. The top 124 is provided with a slot 125 through which the link 44 projects as shown in Figures 3, 4 and 8. The wall 1230/ and top 124 are covered by sound deadening material 126 such as felt.

I claim:

1. The combination with a typewriter encasing cabinet including a box and a hinged cover, of power operated means located within the cabinet for swinging said cover towards and from said box including a worm gear, a crank arm fixed to rotate with said gear, a motor, driving connections between the gear and the motor including a driven shaft, a flexible coupling between the motor and the driven shaft, a brake associated with said shaft, a worm fixed to the shaft and meshing with said gear, a link connecting said crank arm and cover and control means for the power-operated means operable from the exterior of the cabinet.

2. The combination with a typewriter encasing cabinet including a box and a hinged cover, of power operated means located within the cabinet for swinging said cover towards and from said box including an electric motor, a rotary element driven by said motor, and an operating connection be tween the cover and the rotary element, and control means for the power operated means including an electric circuit for the motor and located within the cabinet, a normally open switch in said circuit and located within the cabinet, manually operable means for closing said switch, and motor-operated means for. opening the switch including a trip lever, a link connecting the trip lever and the switch, and means movable with the rotary element and having a yielding movement in one direction relative thereto for actuating said trip lever.

3. The combination with a typewriter encasing cabinet, of power-operated means located within the cabinet for moving said cover to open and closed positions including a driven gear, a crank arm fixed to rotate with the driven gear, a motor, driving connections between the driven gear and the motor including a driven shaft, a brake associated with said shaft, a driver gear fixed to said shaft and meshing with the driven gear, a link connecting the crank and the cover, and manually operable means to control operation of the motor.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name.

LEWIS C. MYERS. 

